On Wednesday, Taiwan Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen met separately with Xin Changxing, Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee. In her meeting with Chen Jining, Cheng Li-wen mentioned Shanghai's special status in cross-strait exchanges and relations, as well as recalling the historic "Koo-Wang Talks" that were held in Shanghai.
During her meeting with Chen Jining on Wednesday evening, Cheng Li-wen said that Shanghai has played a critical role in cross-strait exchanges and relations, including hosting the historic "Koo-Wang Talks". Koo Chen-fu hoped that, apart from the "1992 Consensus", the talks could continue without interruption. The efforts for peaceful development across the strait must not be halted, and the "Twin City Forum" between Shanghai and Taipei has now been held 16 times, playing a very significant function and role.
Cheng Li-wen expressed her hope to use this opportunity to expand and deepen various exchanges between Shanghai and Taiwan, and to further accumulate cross-strait peace and enhance mutual goodwill and trust. Seeing young people from both sides pursuing and realizing their dreams here, she said she hopes "our generation won't become their obstacle" but can be their backbone, enabling them to achieve their dreams in a peaceful environment.
In his speech, Chen Jining asserted that the two parties should actively promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation on the political basis of "adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence," maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, enhance "the kinship and well-being of compatriots across the Strait, increase our pride and confidence in being Chinese, and promote national reunification." He also said, "We must resolutely safeguard the common home of the Chinese nation, protect the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and work hand in hand for a better future for the Chinese nation."
After concluding her morning visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing on Wednesday, Cheng Li-wen met with Xin Changxing over lunch at the Jinling Hotel. She then took a high-speed train to Shanghai to visit Meituan and the Shanghai Riverside Industrial Zone.
During her visit to Meituan, Cheng Li-wen experienced drone delivery of bubble tea. Afterwards, during her trip to the Shanghai Riverside Industrial Zone, she attended a cultural exchange event between youth from Taiwan and Shanghai. Following her meeting with Chen Jining in the evening, her delegation was set to take a night cruise along the Huangpu River.
During her lunch meeting with Xin Changxing on Wednesday, Cheng Li-wen thanked Jiangsu for its support to Taiwanese businessmen, noting that the mainland had just announced the "15th Five-Year Plan." She stated that in the process of modernization and in economics and technology, both sides hope to work together and she believes this would make even greater contributions to humanity. Regarding future new industries, if Taiwan's intellectual, industrial, and cultural sectors can participate jointly, she believes the future will be extraordinarily exciting.
She said that Jiangsu's achievements are not only rooted in its millennia-old cultural heritage, but also in its globally leading position in the most modern fields. She looks forward to more exchanges between the two sides in the future, believing there is huge potential for mutual learning and cooperation. She hopes that a positive spirit of cooperation across the strait can be magnified to replace negative and destructive messages. As this trip begins in Nanjing, Jiangsu, she is especially grateful and excited, as it fills her with hope for the future.
In his speech, Xin Changxing stated that Cheng Li-wen received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowds during her morning visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, which shows that her visit caters to the mainstream interest of Taiwanese society—peace, development, exchange, and cooperation. He said this meets the developmental needs of cross-strait relations and the common aspirations of people on both sides, and "can be said to conform with public opinion."